Paedophile butler appeal rejected

Kidd admitted a series of sex offences

A paedophile royal butler who took one of his victims for tea with the Queen has failed to get his indefinite jail sentence overturned.

Paul Kidd, 56, of Stalybridge, argued that an indeterminate order of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) was "wrong" and "excessive".

But the Court of Appeal rejected his challenge, saying that he had carried out serious sexual assaults.

Kidd was senior footman to the Queen Mother between 1979 and 1984.

The former butler was jailed at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court in December after pleading guilty to charges including indecent assault and sexual activity with a child.

Kidd's offences were committed between 1974 and 1977, 1981 and 1983 - when he was in the employ of the Queen Mother - and 2005 to 2008.

'Not excessive'

He introduced one of his victims to the Queen Mother as a "friend" during a Christmas party at Clarence House - but in reality he had been assaulting the boy since the age of 14.

Mrs Justice Slade said it was argued on Kidd's behalf that an extended sentence of imprisonment was a more appropriate sentence.

This would have comprised a custodial element and a period on licence - coupled with the "stringent" terms of the sexual offences prevention order imposed in his case.

But dismissing the sentence challenge, she said that he had perpetrated serious sexual offences against boys with "devastating consequences for them" and it was clear that such behaviour was "ingrained" in him.

He "shows no remorse or recognition that what he has done is wrong", she added.

She said that it was "entirely unsurprising" that imprisonment for public protection was imposed and the minimum of six years was "not excessive".